How and why beekeepers participate in the INSIGNIA citizen science honey bee environmental monitoring project.

ABSTRACT: In the "contributory" citizen science project INSIGNIA, beekeepers carried out non-invasive sampling of their own honey bee colonies for an environmental investigation of pesticide residues and pollen plant origin. We surveyed several traits and attitudes of 69 of the volunteering beekeepers from ten countries. We found that their motivation was similar to that found in previous studies of environmental volunteer motivation, with helping the environment and contributing to scientific knowledge being strong motivators. Our results suggest that receiving laboratory analysis results of the samples from their colonies is the most meaningful way of appreciation for beekeepers, but is not their primary reason for participation. A citizen scientist beekeeper in this study spent on average 10.4 wo

SUBMITTER: Gratzer K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8302492 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature